Imagine a Tennessee offense with Ke'Shawn Vaughn at running back, Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers at wide receiver, and Cade Mays on the offensive line.

Or how about a defense with Jacob Phillips and Tyrel Dodson at linebacker, JaCoby Stevens at safety and Joejuan Williams at cornerback?

Those are just a few examples of in-state players whom Tennessee couldn't sign.

As well as former Tennessee coach Butch Jones recruited, he didn't shore up the state. Recruiting in-state players is now Jeremy Pruitt's challenge. If he can succeed, UT at least should get back in the bowl business.

Tennessee has flourished when it has successfully recruited both regionally and nationally. There haven't been enough outstanding college prospects in the state to support a nationally prominent program.

There still aren't. But the state is producing more big-time players than in years past. And UT needs to capitalize.

Tee Higgins is presented with a Mr. Football trophy at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, during a halftime break in the basketball game between Oak Ridge and Central. Higgins, a Clemson wide receiver commit , was watched from the stands by Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. At right is Higgins' mother Camilla Stewart. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL

Oak Ridge's Tee Higgins intercepts a pass intended for Clinton's Demarea Whitt at Clinton on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Also defending on the play is Mark Kaczocha. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Saul Young

Chaton Mobley of Fulton, right, conducts a mock interview with Tee Higgins of Oak Ridge during the Knoxville Football Officials Association high school football media day Friday, July 15, 2016, at Three Ridges Golf Course. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) Paul Efird

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Higgins and Rodgers, both from the Knoxville area, have figured prominently in Clemson's bid for another national championship. Mays, who starred for Knoxville Catholic, has had an immediate impact on Georgia's offensive line as a freshman.

Those three names come up right away when you think about in-state players whom the Vols failed to sign. But there are plenty of others scattered elsewhere who could have helped a team that came up short on both offense and defense in finishing 5-7 this past season.

Vaughn, a Nashville native, originally signed with Illinois, where he rushed for 723 yards in 2015. After transferring to Vanderbilt, he has rushed for 1,001 yards this season.

Phillips, a sophomore linebacker from Nashville, is LSU's second-leading tackler with 83. Stevens, of Murfreesboro, has come on strong for LSU at the end of his sophomore season. He had 21 tackles the past two games, including 14 against Texas A&M.

Dodson, a junior linebacker from Franklin, is closing in on 200 career tackles at Texas A&M.

Catholic High School wide receiver Amari Rodgers, left, poses with Irish coach Steve Matthews after receiving his Under Armour All-America jersey on Thursda, at Catholic High School. Special to the News Sentinel

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Williams, a junior cornerback from Nashville, has four interceptions and 56 tackles at Vanderbilt this season.

Tennessee's offensive line problems have been well documented. Nashville's Alex Givens could have helped. He has started at both guard and tackle in his three seasons at Ole Miss.

Former Rebel Van Jefferson of Brentwood now plays for Florida. In three seasons with the Gators and Rebels combined, he has 122 catches.

The Vols even have lost players to Missouri. Wide receiver Emanuel Hall from Franklin averaged 24.8 yards on his 33 catches in 2017. Despite being slowed by injuries this season, he still has more than 600 yards receiving.

Freshman running back Tyler Badie has flashed potential as a Tigers running back this season. The Memphis native has rushed for 407 yards despite playing behind Larry Rountree and Damarea Crockett.

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Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn slips past Arkansas defender Kamren Curl to score a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. AP

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) breaks a tackle from Georgia defensive back Tyrique McGhee (26) and linebacker Monty Rice (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Athens, Ga AP

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) reacts to scoring a touchdown against South Carolina during the first half at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) runs in a touchdown against Nevada during the second half at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) races up the field for a first down in the second half against MTSU at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Four-star offensive lineman Max Wray of Franklin signed with Ohio State last season. So did running back Master Teague of Murfreesboro.

Last week's state championship games provided other examples of recruits planning to leave the state. A handful of four-star recruits from the championship contenders have committed to out-of-state schools. Two of them have committed to South Carolina.

LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Clemson also have four-star commitments from Tennessee.

Pruitt has made more inroads in Georgia than he has Tennessee, and that's significant because Georgia produces more college prospects.

But if he can continue to recruit as well in Georgia and add more in-state recruits, Tennessee's talent level could rise quickly.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.